MIMICKING THE VANADIUM BROMOPEROXIDASES REACTIONS - MILD AND SELECTIVE BROMINATION OF ARENES AND ALKENES IN A 2-PHASE SYSTEM

Vanadium bromoperoxidases catalyze the oxidation of bromide ion by hydrogen peroxide to a bromine-equivalent intermediate. This, in turn, brominates organic molecules. The hypothesis is made that the former reaction takes place in the hydrophilic portion of the enzyme whereas the latter proceeds in a hydrophobic one in which the brominating intermediate is rapidly transferred. We have reproduced such situation by employing a two-phase (H2O/OHCl3) system. In the aqueous acid phase H2O2 and catalytic amounts of NH4VO3 are present, together with KBr. The substrates, i.e. aromatic hydrocarbons and alkenes are dissolved in CHCl3. The bromination proceeds smoothly with stirring, at 25 degrees C, providing high yields of the corresponding brominated products.